This tater tot casserole with green beans, corn, and ground beef is a perfect family-friendly dinner for busy nights! The cozy, one-dish meal includes a creamy gravy, plenty of melted cheddar cheese, and a crispy potato topping.
If you love hearty tater tot casseroles, be sure to try a chicken nuggets and potato tots casserole, a chicken tater tot casserole, or a tater tot breakfast casserole, too!
Table of Contents
Before You Get Started
- Drain your canned veggies well. Excess liquid from the corn and green beans can make your casserole watery. Give them a good drain (and even a pat dry) before adding them to the filling.
- Don’t thaw the tater tots. Add them straight from the freezer to the top of your casserole. They’ll crisp up perfectly in the oven.
- Let it rest before serving. Give the casserole about 5-10 minutes to set after baking. This helps everything hold together when you scoop it onto plates.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole with Green Beans
You only need about 10 minutes of prep time and a handful of simple ingredients for this easy tater tot casserole recipe. Here’s how to put it together:
Step 1: Brown the Beef
Cook the ground beef and diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off any fat from the pan.
Lean ground beef works best here since it produces less grease.
Step 2: Mix the Filling
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the condensed soups and milk until smooth. Add the cooked beef mixture, drained corn, and drained green beans; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper works well).
** Quick Note: I use small cans of the vegetables since they’re not my kids’ favorite part of the casserole, and the smaller amount doesn’t overwhelm the dish. If you prefer more veggies, you can use larger cans of corn and green beans.
Step 3: Layer and Top
Transfer the ground beef mixture to a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top, then finish with a single layer of frozen tater tots.
You want the tots in a single layer so they crisp up nicely.
Step 4: Bake Until Golden
Bake the casserole uncovered in a 375°F oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the inside is hot and bubbly and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. The filling should be bubbling around the edges when it’s ready.
If using French-fried onions as a topping, add them during the final 15 minutes of baking so they get browned and crispy without burning.
Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the filling set so it’s easier to scoop and serve.
The flavor in this short list of ingredients is amazing! this one is another Home run in my book. Next time I make it I had a request to swap out the green beans for Peas and small diced carrots. I love this site. I have found so many cool things to make and so easy to put my own spin on them as well. Thank you Blair.
– Pete
Tips & Variations
This tater tot casserole with green beans is a great basic formula that you can adapt to suit your family’s preferences.
- Swap the protein. Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef for a lighter option.
- Try different soups. Any combination of condensed soup flavors will work. You can use two cans of cream of mushroom, two cans of cream of chicken, cream of celery, or any mix you like. A dollop of sour cream stirred into the filling adds a rich, tangy layer.
- Add more veggies. Use larger cans of corn and green beans if you want a veggie-heavy casserole. You can also swap in frozen mixed vegetables, peas, or diced carrots.
- Use fresh green beans. If you prefer fresh green beans over canned, parboil or steam them first until just tender. This ensures they’re cooked through in the casserole.
- Change up the cheese. Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby, or mozzarella all work well in place of cheddar.
- Add extra flavor. Stir 1-2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce into the beef mixture for a deeper, savory taste. Garlic powder and onion powder are also great additions.
- Top with fried onions. A can of French-fried onions sprinkled over the tater tots during the final 15 minutes of baking adds a nice crunch.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this Southern tater tot casserole with a simple green salad dressed in buttermilk dressing, garlic roasted broccoli, oven roasted asparagus, a pan of Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, or a basket of 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits.
Preparation and Storage Tips
Prep Ahead: Assemble the casserole filling up to 24 hours in advance. Transfer it to the baking dish, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and store in the fridge. When ready to bake, let the dish sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes. Top with the cheese and tater tots right before baking. If the filling is still cool when it goes in the oven, you may need to increase the total baking time.
How to Freeze Before Baking: Assemble as instructed, then wrap tightly with aluminum foil before baking. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. If it’s in a freezer-to-oven-safe dish, you can bake directly from frozen. Bake for at least 1 hour, keeping the top covered for the first 20-30 minutes.
Storage: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat: Cover the dish loosely with foil and warm in a 350°F oven just until heated through, about 20-30 minutes. Remove the cover during the final 5-10 minutes to allow the tots to crisp again. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 1 minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of green beans work best in tater tot casserole?
Canned cut green beans are the easiest option and work great. Just be sure to drain them well. French-style green beans (the thinner, longer cut) are also a nice choice if you prefer a more delicate texture. If using frozen green beans, thaw and drain them first. Fresh green beans should be parboiled or steamed until just tender before adding to the casserole.
How do I keep my tater tot casserole from getting watery?
The key is draining your canned vegetables thoroughly before mixing them into the filling. Excess liquid from the corn and green beans is the most common cause of a watery casserole. You can even pat them dry with a paper towel for extra insurance. Also, make sure to drain the fat from the ground beef after browning.
Can I use a different meat or make this vegetarian?
Absolutely. Ground turkey or ground chicken work well as lighter alternatives. For a vegetarian version, skip the meat entirely and add extra vegetables like diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or black beans. You may want to add a bit more cheese or an extra can of veggies to keep the filling hearty.
What’s the difference between a hotdish and a casserole?
They’re essentially the same thing! “Hotdish” is a term used mainly in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, the Dakotas), while “casserole” is more common in the South and other parts of the country. Both refer to a one-dish baked meal with a starch, protein, vegetables, and a creamy binder.
Love the recipe! I use onion and garlic powder when I brown the meat instead of having chunks of onion, which I don’t like. Also I use a small bag of mixed veggies, frozen, instead of canned corn and green beans.
– Jesse
More Easy Casseroles to Try
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Watch How to Make It
Tater Tot Casserole with Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of celery soup
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 (11 oz) can Mexicorn, drained (or sub with regular canned corn)
- 1 (8 oz) can cut green beans, drained
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or sub with another type of cheese, such as Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby, or mozzarella)
- 4 cups (about 16 ounces) frozen Tater Tots
- Optional topping: 1 (3 ounce) can French-fried onions; chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Cook beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until meat is no longer pink (about 5-7 minutes). Drain.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the condensed soups and milk. Add the cooked beef mixture, corn, and green beans; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I use ½ teaspoon of salt and about ¼ teaspoon of pepper).
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over top. Finish with a layer of Tater Tots.
- Bake the casserole uncovered for 35-40 minutes (or until the inside is hot and bubbly and the Tater Tots are crispy and golden brown). If using French-fried onions, add them to the top of the casserole during the final 15 minutes (this will allow them to get browned and crispy without burning).
- Let the casserole rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or other herbs, if desired.
Notes
- Drain veggies well. Excess liquid from canned corn and green beans can make the casserole watery. Drain thoroughly before adding.
- Don’t thaw the tater tots. Add them frozen for the crispiest results.
- Let it rest. Allowing the casserole to sit for 5-10 minutes after baking helps it hold together when serving.
- Swap the meat. Ground turkey or ground chicken work well in place of beef.
- Change up the soup. Use any combination of cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, or cream of celery.
- Add more flavor. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce for a deeper, savory taste.
- Use fresh green beans. Parboil or steam them first until just tender before adding to the casserole.
- For more veggies. Use larger cans of corn and green beans, or add frozen mixed vegetables.
Nutrition
Originally published in November, 2019, this post was updated in January, 2026.
Love the recipe! I use onion and garlic powder when I brown the meat instead of having chunks of onion, which I don’t like. Also I use a small bag of mixed veggies, frozen, instead of canned corn and green beans.
Thanks, Jesse!
The flavor in this short list of ingredients is amazing! this one is another Home run in my book. Next time I make it I had a request to swap out the green beans for Peas and small diced carrots. I love this site. I have found so many cool things to make and so easy to put my own spin on them as well. Thank you Blair.
Perfect! It makes me so happy to know that you’re enjoying the recipes and, most importantly, that you’re figuring out how to tweak them to suit your preferences. That’s what cooking is all about — the recipe is just inspiration! 🙂
I want to make a smaller casserole, about a 2 quart pyrex. I was going to use tuna and make it more vegetable heavy. What proportions would you suggest? I have standard size cans of vegetables. I was going to season it with Mrs Dash. I wasn’t going to add the cheese to the casserole before it goes into the oven but sprinkle a little on top before reheating in the microwave. What would the oven temp and baking time be? Thanks, Blair.
Hi, Marion! I would cut all of the ingredients in half for a 2-quart pyrex dish. For example, if using tuna, try about 6-8 ounces of canned, drained tuna, 1/2 of an onion, 1 can of soup, etc. If you want to add more veggies, that’s fine. I’d just start with half of the suggested amounts, and then go up from there, eyeballing it to see if you like the consistency. So start with 1 standard size can of veggies and see if that’s enough for your liking. Stick with the same oven temp, but you might be able to reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes. Just keep an eye on it, because you want to allow enough time for the tater tots to get crispy on top. Hope that helps!
I have previously made tater tot casserole only to be disappointed that the tater tots were soggy on the bottom. Can you bake the tater tots separately then when they are crispy on top and bottom then top your baked casserole?
Yes, ma’am. That should work fine!
At what step is the corn and green beans mixed in?
Hi, Jen! You’ll add the veggies in Step 2 (when you combine the beef and soup mixture). Sorry for that confusion!